prodigal

 
Pronunciation: /ˈprɒdɪg(ə)l/

adjective

  • 1spending money or using resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant: prodigal habits die hard
  • 2having or giving something on a lavish scale: the dessert was prodigal with whipped cream

noun

  • a person who spends money in a recklessly extravagant way: the government wished to clip the wings of the local authority prodigals
  • (also prodigal son or daughter) a person who leaves home to lead a prodigal life but later makes a repentant return.
    [with biblical allusion to the parable in Luke 15:11–32]

Derivatives

prodigality

Pronunciation: /-ˈgalɪti/
noun

prodigally

adverb

Origin:

late Middle English: from late Latin prodigalis, from Latin prodigus 'lavish'

Spelling help

Remember that prodigal ends with -al.